Republican staffer catches heat for Sasha, Malia rant

Sunday, November 30, 2014
GOP staffer apologizes for comments on Sasha and Malia Obama
A GOP communications director is apologizing after making comments about first daughters Sasha and Malia Obama at this week's turkey pardoning.

WASHINGTON -- There's online outrage over an attack on President Barack Obama's daughters.

A Republican congressional staffer posted a rant on Facebook about the way Sasha and Malia looked and acted during the White House turkey pardoning the other day.

Republican congressional aide Elizabeth Lauten is in the hot seat, accused of cyber bullying Sasha and Malia Obama.

Lauten chided the first teens for acting, like teenagers, during President Obama's annual pre-Thanksgiving pardoning of two turkeys.

Lauten, lecturing the girls not to "make faces during televised public events" in a Facebook rant, writing:

"Dear Sasha and Malia, I get it, you're both in those awful teen years, but you're part of the first family, try to show a little class."

The former RNC media director then took jabs their parents.

"Then again, your mother and father don't respect their positions very much, so I'm guessing you come up short in the role model department," Lauten wrote.

Despite the girls being well below the legal drinking age, Lauten writes, "dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at the bar."

Twitter responded swiftly:

@topazbryant

#elizabethlauten is cyber bullying! i'm a teen & a facial expression in a

moment doesn't define your true character.

@kevikev88

#elizabethlauten should be fired .... she went too far by attacking children

"Everybody that has anything to do with Washington knows that presidential kids are off limits. It's that simple," said Howard Bragman.

Later in the day, the embattled GOP staffer, removed the controversial post and replaced it with an apology.

"After many hours of prayer, I can see more clearly just how hurtful my words were. i'd like to apologize," she wrote.